"Have him away! Have him away, Cuthbert," she cried. "Out of the
castle instantly. My mother is distraught with grief; I know not
what she may do to him. O go! Not a word!"
They could but obey, riding away in the early morning, and leaving
the castle to its sorrow.
So, tenderly and sadly was little Bernard carried to the vault in the
church, while Grisell knelt as his chief mourner, for her mother,
after her burst of passion subsided, lay still and listless, hardly
noticing anything, as if there had fallen on her some stroke that
affected her brain. Tidings of the Baron were slow to come, and
though Grisell sent a letter by a wandering friar to York, with
information of the child's death and the mother's illness, it was
very doubtful when or whether they would ever reach him.
CHAPTER XV--WAKEFIELD BRIDGE
I come to tell you things since then befallen.
After the bloody fray at Wakefield fought,
Where your brave father breathed his latest gasp.
SHAKESPEARE, King Henry VI., Part III.
Christmas went by sadly in Whitburn Tower, but the succeeding weeks
were to be sadder still. It was on a long dark evening that a
commotion was heard at the gate, and Lady Whitburn, who had been
sitting by the smouldering fire in her chamber, seemed suddenly
startled into life.
"Tidings," she cried. "News of my lord and son. Bring them,
Grisell, bring them up."
Grisell obeyed, and hurried down to the hall.
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